Top 10 Fashion Rules For Dressing Younger

If you want to know how to look young, you need to be sure your clothes aren't making you look older! Our top 10 tips on dressing younger are here to help.

If you want to know how to look young, it's vital to be sure that your clothes aren't making you look older! Our top 10 tips on dressing younger are here to help.

1.Ditch sensible shoes Although comfort takes priority as we get older, heels do add glamour. There are so many styles around that are easier to wear these days - look out for shoes with a little platform which lift your foot to relieve the steepness of the heel. But if you really can't do heels, opt for chic, flat ballet pumps in intriguing designs. We love Hobbi (pictured above), £65, www.dunelondon.com.

2.Don't play too safe There’s a fine line between classic and boring. Drab, washed-out neutrals worn top-to-toe can easily fall into fuddy-duddy territory. Don’t be scared of colour; a splash of red, green, purple or blue will knock off the years. But if you love the neutral palette, try interesting textures or metallics, as a stylish alternative.

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3. No cover-ups Want to look years younger? Show a bit of skin. Collarbones, along with shoulders and wrists, are the slimmest parts of the body and weather well, so are worth showing off. Keep your collarbone exposed with elegant open necklines and accessorise with a bold statement necklace. Other great ways to reveal yet conceal is with boat necklines, cropped sleeves and sheer fabrics.

4. Get clothes that fit Baggy, shapeless clothes that hide your body will make you look wider and older, while clothes that are too tight look tacky. No matter what your size, softly tailored garments and gently-draped jersey dresses will give a youthful silhouette. Every woman has a part of their body they like most, so show it off, whether it’s your boobs, legs or arms. Feel you don’t have a waist? Add a belt to your top or dress – cinch it a lot or a little, as long as you define it in some way. And suddenly you do have a waist!

5. Say no to saggy bras A great outfit always starts with good foundations. Invest in some good underwear pieces and you’ll instantly look slimmer and your clothes will fit you better. If there's an outfit you love but avoid wearing because you look a bit lumpy in it, get a pair of control pants - they really do help to make you look slimmer. And get properly fitted for a bra - lots of women go for bigger bras for comfort as they get older. Resist! Go for a bra fitting in a department store (John Lewis offers this wonderful service) and mention that you need a comfortable option. M&S do a wonderfully comfortable 'Sumptuously Soft' range that's well worth taking a look at.

6. Comfy not frumpy Exercise clothes, such as trainers, jogging bottoms and oversized T-shirts, should only be worn in the gym. If you want to dress down stylishly, try layering. Long-sleeve T-shirts under cropped-sleeve knits, and laid-back dresses with flats, offer a comfy weekend look that will knock off the years.

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7. Reveal your calves Even if they're in vogue, avoid mid-calf skirts, especially with flats. The most flattering skirts sit just below your kneecap to hide knobbly knees and show off the slimmest part of the leg. Unless you have super duper pins that are ageing brilliantly, we highly recommend the below the kneecap option.

8. Dump the denim jacket Loved by students, loathed by fashion editors, this ’80s staple lacks style and finesse. The only denim that should be in your wardrobe is a pair of well-fitting dark denim jeans. Go for a bouclé jacket, an on-trend trench or a blazer instead.

9. Bling not boring A simple jumper and jeans will look boring if you don’t add any finishing touches. Accessories, such as belts, scarves, costume jewellery and bags, can totally transform an outfit. Avoid matching accessories – it looks dated. Wear one bold piece of jewellery to give your outfit a youthful twist.

10. Know your body shape Body shape is all about proportion, and fashion is all about dressing those proportions to look their very best. As fashions come and go, pick and choose from the current trends, always bearing in mind that your body rules, and that trends have to suit your shape to look good on you. If they don't, leave them well alone!